Once in a while I come across an article where a mom waxes eloquently about the awesomeness of her homeschool. I read about rocket-science experiments, kids reading college-level books, siblings living in beautiful harmony, fabulous field trips, morning baskets full of art and literature enrichment, and peaceful, well-ordered days.

There was a time when such articles filled me with inspiration and enthusiasm. But twelve years in, I confess, such articles usually makes me cringe. Homeschooling, for us, is not nearly so picture perfect. Some days we have a lot of complaining, a lot of bickering, a lot of tears. School is more work than fun. And there are many days when I feel overworked and stressed. So when I read about another mom’s homeschool awesomeness, I can’t help but wonder: Is she still in the honeymoon stage? Or, I am doing something fundamentally wrong?

I wish you all could have been there. The March for Life gets so little media coverage, but it is perhaps one of the most powerful movements of our time in the United States. The youth rally at the Capital One Arena was crammed with 20,000 students. But that was only a small fraction of the hundreds of thousands of people who travelled from all over the country to march in the defense of human life. From the top of Constitution Ave., the March looked like a veritable sea of humanity chanting, singing, praying.

I wish you all could have been there. With the President showing up and giving a speech, it was historic and momentous. But it’s always seeing the hoards of enthusiastic youth that gives me hope. And the signs — they were a voice for the voiceless. Some were funny, others profound, still others courageous. (We carried one, too… can you find it?) Here are some of the awesome signs people were carrying:

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas season! One thing I love about a New Year is that it is a time for fresh starts. Each day is also a fresh start, especially when it begins with a peaceful morning routine. Why wait until the end of the day to decompress? Begin the day with stillness and prayer. And so I thought I’d share this post, written by Melissa Atlee, a dear friend and homeschooling mama: How My New Morning Routine is Giving Me Peace.

Hi, it’s me, Junior. Last time I hacked my mom’s computer, I told you about stuff for a baby shower. But now that I’m a big boy (I recently turned 2 1/2!) I’m here to tell you about my favorite things for a toddler… with or without T21.

One thing I love about homeschooling: I never stop learning about teaching. Recently, I read that Maria Montessori discovered her educational methods while working with children who were mentally challenged. I have always admired the work of Maria Montessori, but now that we have little Junior with T21, I’ve embraced her methods for preschool. And Junior is thriving on them.

But there’s one little problem: Montessori toys are really expensive. So, with the help of Pinterest and a little creativity, I’ve been making our own Montessori-inspired toys. Here are 6 inexpensive homemade toys for your toddlers:

How many of you are thinking of getting your tween a cell phone for Christmas? Because we all know that in the eyes of a tween or teen, a shiny new cell phone under the Christmas tree is even better than Santa. And the pressure is on: everyone at school has a cell phone nowadays. It seems that all the kids on sports teams, scouts, and youth groups have cell phones. If you don’t get your kid a cell phone this Christmas, you’re a veritable Scrooge forcing your child to remain in the dark ages.

But before you jump on the cell-phone band wagon, consider the pros and cons:

Ah, those toddlers! Those cuddly little bundles of curiosity and energy! For many, many years in a row, I’ve homeschooled with a squiggly toddler on my lap, underfoot, here, there, and everywhere. Then I had a few years reprieve, and now here we are again trying to solve algebraic problems while the toddler pulls the books off the shelf, slings the markers across the schoolroom, and yanks drawers off their casters. And, of course, pulls the keys off the computer.

Somehow, I don’t remember how I managed in years past. I do have recollections of finding all the match box cars in the toilet. But I do have some survival strategies I’d like to share with you that might make homeschooling with a toddler a little more peaceful.

“You are a joy for Jesus.” A priest once told this to me in confession, and I was startled and surprised. I am so often aware of my faults and failings. They pile up before my eyes and fill me with self-doubt and discouragement. How could I, a spiritual weakling, one who does not pray enough and falls into the same sins again and again, possibly be a joy for Jesus?

Last post, I shared with you St. Don Bosco’s secret to discipline. Did you read how he could get 500 boys to sit in a hall and study quietly and diligently, without threats or punishment? If you have boys, St. Don Bosco is the saint for you! He is a shining example for parents and teachers. Today I share with you some of his own words of wisdom on education and discipline:

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I love this book (!) because Mary Cooney 'gets' motherhood: "Feeling inadequate is a wonderful place to begin!" she says. Drawing on the wisdom of Scripture, the Catechism, the Popes, the Saints, and Church History, and packed full of Mary's own personal experience and story, "Evangelizing Our Children with Joy" is a wonderful combination of the lofty and the practical, and is a treasure trove for meditating on God's wonderful plan for motherhood and bringing our children to the Lord. - Holly Pierlot, Author of A Mother's Rule of Life

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